Cardiff

Cardiff's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in housing tenure, marriage and ethnicity.

The population reached nearly 350,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Cardiff increased by 13%, from just over 305,000 to 346,000.

The addition of just under 41,000 people means this area's population was the fastest-growing in Wales, while Cardiff remained the most populous local authority area in the country.

In 2011, Cardiff was home to, on average, 18 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres). This made it Wales' most densely-populated district.

Population density was higher than the average across Wales

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across Wales, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

A younger Cardiff

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Cardiff decreased by one year, from 34 to 33 years.

This city had a lower average age than Leeds, a statistically similar local authority area (35 years of age) and the lowest average age in Wales.

The fall in age was because of an increase of almost 19,000 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 70 and 79 years decreased by just under 500.

About 20% of people in Cardiff are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Vale of Glamorgan and Cardiff by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Welsh language in Cardiff

The proportion of Welsh speakers in Cardiff remained close to 11% in the 10 years leading up to Census 2011.

Of the few areas where knowledge of the Welsh language increased, Monmouthshire saw the largest change (from 9.0% to 9.9%).

There are 4,791 more people living in Cardiff who spoke Welsh compared with 2001, while the number of people who did not spoke Welsh increased by 33,274.

In nearby Vale of Glamorgan, 11% of people over the age of three could speak some Welsh, down from 11% at the 2001 census. Across Wales, the proportion fell from 21% to 19%.

The proportion of people who could speak Welsh was lower than across Wales

Percentage of people aged three and over that that said they could speak Welsh across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Rise in private renting

This area saw Wales' largest rise in the proportion of privately rented homes.

During this period, Cardiff overtook seven local authority areas, including Isle of Anglesey and Conwy, to become the Wales local authority area with the highest percentage of private renting.

In 2011, just over one in five (22%) households in Cardiff rented privately, compared with 11% in 2001. The percentage of socially rented homes increased from 17% to 17%.

Newport saw the next largest rise (from 5.4% to 14%).

Private renting in Cardiff increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of households in Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan and Wales that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Cardiff

This area saw Wales' largest rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership.

During this period, Cardiff overtook to become the Wales local authority area with the highest percentage of single people.

In 2011, just over 4 in 10 (45%) people aged 16 and over in Cardiff said they were single, compared with 38% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 45% to 39%.

Merthyr Tydfil saw the next largest rise (from 28% to 35%).

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were single across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Ethnicity in Cardiff

The number of people in Cardiff from the White ethnic groups increased from just under 280,000 in 2001 to about 290,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 92% to 85%.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across Wales (from 98% to 96%).

The number of people in Cardiff from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 14,000 in 2001 to about 28,000 in 2011 (from 4.6% to 8.1%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 6,100 to about 10,000 (from 2.0% to 2.9%).

About 8,200 people (1.3%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just under 3,900 in 2001 (2.4%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Cardiff decreased by 6.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Vale of Glamorgan and Cardiff by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

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